COLLINGWOOD youngsters Tim Broomhead and Nathan Freeman will spend up to a month on the sidelines after suffering injuries in the Magpies' two-point NAB Challenge loss to Geelong on Wednesday night.
Broomhead broke a bone in his hand, while Freeman – the club's first-round draft pick from 2013 – injured his hamstring.
"We'll see how they go, but they'll be missing three to four (weeks) each, probably," Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said after the game.
Broomhead had a wretched run in his debut season in 2013, battling glandular fever and the youngster was one of the standouts on the training track for the Pies during the pre-season.
Freeman had also impressed the Magpies coaching staff with his speed and dedication to his training, with the injury a blow to the club's midfield depth.
Pies wingman Clinton Young also copped a knock to the face and was bleeding profusely, but Buckley allayed fears about any serious injury.
"He got a smack in the mouth. Obviously not as bad as the Geelong boy (George Burbury). I think he had a lacerated (area) inside his cheek, but he should be right."
Collingwood midfielder Clinton Young lies prone after a hit to the mouth. Picture: AFL Media.
Brodie Grundy also spent some time on the interchange bench in the first quarter, after leaving the ground dazed by a significant head knock.
However the Pies' No.1 ruckman returned to the game later on and Buckley said he was fine.
The Pies coach was pleased with his team's defensive structures, while he also had praise for new recruit Jesse White who booted five goals in his debut for the club.
"I thought he played his role really well. Clearly, five goals is a good return. His running patterns were strong and some of his contests to halve some aerial balls, when he was outnumbered to create opportunities for ground-level players, was excellent," he said.
Fellow recruit Taylor Adams was also prolific through the midfield, gathering 31 possessions in an impressive first-up display.
"He's (Adams) always in the contest. Tonight ended up being one of those games where if you can get extra numbers to the contest, you had the upper hand," Buckley said.
"Taylor worked his way through the game as a consistent presence for us. He would have liked to have finished a couple of his chances, but the energy he gave was consistent."
